Roof replacement and internal refurbishment of community library
Spondon Library was refurbished by Seddon on behalf of Derby City Council, following issues with the existing flat roof covering, which had begun leaking and causing damage to internal finishes. The scope of works included a new flat roof covering, replacement windows and external doors throughout, new internal finishes such as carpets and decorations, and the renewal of M&E.
During the design phase, the team carried out a series of surveys, including asbestos, R&D and structural safety surveys, to fully understand the condition of the building before works began. The asbestos survey identified the need for asbestos removal throughout the building, which was carried out as an early phase of the project to ensure the building was safe for the works that followed.
The structural surveys identified a more significant challenge: the existing structure was unable to safely support the additional load of a new roof. Rather than default to a costly full replacement of the concrete roof deck, Seddon’s design team worked through the options and proposed an alternative solution – strengthening the existing roof slabs from within the building using steel beams. This avoided the need to replace the roof deck entirely, while still achieving a structurally sound solution capable of supporting the new roof covering.
